The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1887-02-19

nation scene which had sprung up
81 suddenly in the midst of the snowy
darkness. "Dreaming 1 shall wake
up presently with my toes and finger
ends fuOzen stiff But it's an uncom.
monty joiIy dream. anyhow. and Pll
enjoy 1t while | can. What Is thi.
delicious smell? 1t can't be coffee
aud toasted johnny-cake, can it?
People don't smell coffee and johnny
cake in dreams, that ever | heard
of."
Just then voice broke the thread
of his ref 'rti0us.
"EI0w nice the coffee was 1t was
Just like you, Rhoda, to think of
bringing it,"
ION, well u another sweet voice
responded; "I've been out here be-.
fore IN a snpW -st0rm. Somebody
must go, you know, aud Alpck is IN
Concord. and fathers rheumaii-nI il
N'"S' 'h"h u'uu' iO-hiSu'' ANu Cii
ihe farn-"ry. il always afraid of
Silver Peak when il SHOWS. Moth
ing would Undue. him t. come"
"But weren't you afraid, Rhoda ?"
II ?" echoed the Iark-sweet tone.
"Wa~n't | horn here ?"
My words exactly" thought our
hero. II should like to come out
upon the scene aurl ask for taste of
thai Arabian drau4ht, but might
Tighten these mountain fairies away
if were to tie too precipitate. I'll
be patient and biGe my time"
"And," went on pretty Rhnda
Eastwood. II knew it was possible
we might he detained here all night.
SD l brought the matches along. and
the candles and the pail of Coffee"
"Hello!" thought Mr.. Everly.
"Here's Il pretty kettle of fish!
must come out sooner or later.
They've going stay here all nightv'
"Raoda ?" whispered soft little
voice.
"WelI, Nannie?" was the sweet
answer.
"Arpn't you afraid nnw?"
"Atraid?-you goose! What should
| he afraid 0f?" merrily retorted the
farmers daughter
"I-don't-know," slowly answer
ed Mamie. "OnIy it's SO lonesome"
"There are the calves, you know"
laughed Rhoda.
"Humph !" said Mr.. Everly to
to himself.
"Andits st Valentines "add.
ed Mamie.
"WelI." said Rhoda. "what oil
that?"
"They're going to have dance up
at Squire Everly's." said Mamie.
"WelI. and how does that concern
US 2"
II should like to have gone" said
Mamie, clasping her knees after q
meditation fashion, II never was al
Valentine party. What does il
mean, Rho,la, anyway? 2"
"Oh, | don't know!' said Rhoda
flinging fresh pine cones on the fire,
"rhere's an old saying, believe
that the first man you see on st. Val
entine's morning is your true love fol
the rest OF the year"
"And no longer ?" in accents of dis
appointment.
"How do know" laughed Rhoda
II never was at Il Valentines party
either !"
II wonder who we shall meet go
ing down the mountain to morrow -
said Mamie. after n brief silence.
"A- If it wasn't all nonsense p
said Rhoda.
How pretty she looked as she sa
there, with tbs flashing red refiec
tionS dancing on her raven hair ant
mirrOred in her liquid brown eyes
"But one must talk nonsense some
times" pleaded Mamie. 1--WE have
got to pass away the time somehow
II we go to sleep. and let the fire gt
down, we shall he frozen TO death
Oh. good gracious ! what's that ?"
Some slight, unconscious move
ment On the part of their hiddei
auditor had frightened the calves
there was n sudden plunge aud out
cry in their midst. E'lgar preceivet
that his ambuscade wa4 no l0nge
possible; he emerged boldly into tn,
light.
"I.sd;es-" said he.
"It's II maui" screamed Mamie
"Oh, oh, we shall be robbed ant
murdered! Oh, oh !"
And she clung desperately to Rho
da East twOOd.
II beg n thousand pardOns, an
sur'," pleaded Eyerly. ut isn't m!
fault. Pun not responsible. 1 Icouldn'
help it, indeed. L am Squire Everly'
son from Harvard Won knOW-An(